By Roy Hezron
Kenya National Teachers Pressure Group (KNTPG) has hinted at transforming into a teachers union soon stating that they’re not satisfied with the manner in which the two teachers’ unions are handling teachers’ affairs.
They also condemned frustrations of teachers following the roll out of Teachers Professional Development (TPD).
In a recent interview with Education News the group’s Spokesperson Ms. Martha Omollo and Mr. Salvin Munene the Eastern region representative noted they will transform into a union as soon as possible if teachers decide to pursue that direction, noting that teachers are frustrated with representation of Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet).
“We cannot continue paying our monies to unions that are not speaking for us. If unions can’t speak for us, we’ll speak for ourselves,” said Ms. Omollo.
Mr. Munene added that: “Teachers are frustrated by the unions’ representation. Our leaders signed a non-monetary CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and don’t listen to teachers on matters to do with health care insurance cover provider.
In Kuppet they mutilated the Constitution and came up with the so called ‘Corona’ Constitution. The top leadership did not call an NGC (National Governing Council) meeting to ratify the mutilation. The illegitimate constitution does not allow any teacher to rise to a national position.
The current NEB (National Executive Board) did not allow any election to national offices this year after the expiry of 5 years. Currently they have imposed themselves on teachers. If teachers decide that our group should mutate into a union, we can explore that direction.”
Ms. Omollo and Mr. Munene who are members of Knut and Kuppet respectively and are still in teaching service noted that the group is almost one month old since its formation towards the end of September this year, following the pressure the teachers were exerting on them due to frustration by both Knut and Kuppet notably in the roll out of TPD by TSC most recently and added that their activities are restricted to weekends, holidays and after 5:30 p.m. weekdays.
“The pressure group is hardly 1 month. It was formed about two weeks when a group of teachers who were disgruntled with the roll out of TPD and the manner in which the Chief Executive Officer referred to teachers (as unskilled, semi-skilled)…Teachers are not happy with policies brought about only to keep taking away money from their pay slips,” noted Ms. Omollo.
Mr. Munene added that, “Teachers wanted teachers in other leadership positions not in unions to provide answers to their frustrations. The frustrations are affecting all of us in this Noble profession, and we want to seek solutions while still teaching our dear students.”
According to Mr. Munene, the group has about 200 active teachers per county which brings to about 10,000 active teachers nationally, but teachers who are in support can hit up to 230,000 currently.
Regarding the recent proposals being pushed by lawmakers to reduce the powers of TSC, Ms. Omollo told Education News that it’s an excellent move adding that it’s an idea whose time has come and teachers truly support it.
In October 4, 2021 the duo addressed a press conference at Professional Centre in Nairobi condemning frustrations of teachers following the roll out of TPD and demanding resignation of Knut and Kuppet leadership for failing to represent the interest of members.
Ms. Omollo noted that Kuppet and Knut officials have failed to protect members from the “punitive” TPD, a programme that forces a teacher to part with Sh6, 000 for refresher courses every year.
She was accompanied Mr. David Mwembei, Mr. Timothy Nderitu, Ms. Betty Koech and Salvin Munene, all members of the group.
Ms. Omollo and her group said teachers were never involved in the development of the TPD but unions failed to express the frustrations of members to the TSC.
“The teachers, particularly those on the TSC payroll, have resolved not to honour the TPD, until and unless they are directly involved in the development of the programme and modules,” she said.
She added that: “As much as we support section 35(2) and (b) of the TSC Act (2012) on career progression and professional development, the commission has to abide by the Constitution, the Labour Relations Act (2007) and the Statutory Instruments Act (2013) in developing the TPD.”
It is known that another group has begun the process of registering the National Education Union of Kenya and could it be successful and the plans of Kenya National Teachers Pressure Group’s plan of transforming into a union, it will bring the total number of teachers unions in the country to five.
Who are Ms. Omollo and Mr. Munene?
Martha Omollo is a teacher at Supaloaf Primary School in Nairobi County and she holds a Diploma in Education Management from Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) and describes herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and a great teacher of this great nation.
She is a registered, professional teacher and has more than 25 years’ experience in handling learners aged between 6-18 years and at the same time a music trainer, guides and counsels learners.
Through her passion for transforming lives, she has embraced fanatical interest in developing the girl child and has therefore offered voluntary services to Tunza Sports Academy, to help girls in rural areas have beauty with brains away from dangers looming around them like early marriages, poverty and teenage pregnancies among others.
She is also a great unionist fighting for rights of individuals having represented teachers of Nairobi as Assistant Executive Secretary KNUT Nairobi Branch for period 2014-2016.
On the other hand, Salvin Munene lives in Embu and teaches at Kathari Secondary School and also Bishop’s official interpreter of Redeemed Gospel Church – Runyenjes of Mount Kenya South region.
Munene who is married to one wife is also the Embu County Secretary, Kenya Science and Engineering Fair (KSEF) and a church elder.
